Question
I was at the local Home Depot today and saw bags of cow manure compost.  I was wondering if it would be ok to add this to my rose beds.  If not, what do you recommend?  I usually add Bayer 2 in 1 systemic insecticide and rose food, but was wanting to add to the soil.  Also, I have a small rose garden, is it ok to plant shrub roses closer than 3 feet apart?  Thank you!

Answer
Cow manure is good for the soil it isn't a fertilizer but it helps the bacteria in the soil  do their job of breaking down the nutrients to make it easier for the rose to take them up. One bag should do four roses. I would put it around the area close to where the rose roots are instead of using it all over the area where there isn't any rose planted. That way the roses get all the benefit of the manure. If you are planting any roses, just mix it with the soil that is in the hole such as 1/3 of the bag. You can plant the roses closer but they will grow into each other and make it harder for you to do any work around them. I wouldn't go closer than 3 feet. By three feet I mean the base of one bush is 3 feet from the base another rose bush. You can always prune them if they put out a cane that is reaching into the other rose.